I was very pleased a few weeks ago when I received word that we would be picking up two of the Oliva
V Series Melanio cigars. I have really enjoyed smoking these over the past year and have lobbied strongly for their inclusion into our portfolio. With some help from one of the hardest working cigar guys in the business, Albert Sosa from Oliva Cigars, we were able to convince our buying team to add the
Torpedo and Churchill  vitolas to our humidors. Their exact arrival date is not yet known, but I am told we should have them before the end of April.

For those of you familiar with the Oliva V series Cigars, the Melanio is a "gran reserva limitada" that features some precisely aged Nicaraguan Habano tobacco from the Jalapa region, expertly encased in a beautiful and spicy Ecuadorian wrapper.

The cigar is named for Melanio Oliva, the founding father of Oliva, who first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. The V Series Melanio is a fitting tribute to the patriarch of one of the most storied family names in cigar history.

From the first pre-light draw one can already taste the pepper and sweet undertones of this box-pressed Robusto. I can hardly wait to get the foot toasted, but I still take my time getting it lit. My patience is
rewarded with some pleasant pepper notes with a mild hint of cocoa. Although this is a full-bodied cigar, the creaminess of the smoke really softens the edges.

As I complete the first third of the cigar, the pepper notes intensify, but a nice coffee flavor begins to come through. The burn is perfect as the creamy smoke continues to flow over the palate.

Working through the second third, the pepper flavor continues along with some pronounced coffee notes. Cedar and a hint of leather join the palate party. All of these flavors are blended perfectly and this is my favorite part of Oliva V Melanio experience. The complexity of this cigar is really showing off at this point.

As I pass the first band and start the final third, the coffee notes and cedar fade away and the pepper becomes the dominant force with leather softly hanging on. With both bands now removed, the smoke remains cool and the only downside is that I am about to run out of cigar.

This is definitely a cigar I encourage everyone to try. Don't let the full-bodied description scare you away if you are one who prefers a mild to medium-bodied smoke. This is a well-crafted, expertly blended cigar
that will be a welcomed addition to anyone's humidor. This 5x52 Robusto took just over an hour to finish and was a cool, creamy smoke right to the very end.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits regional manager in Jacksonville. Follow him on Twitter @chrisgnole